Container for precious stones



Om. 22, 1968 R. WEISSBERG CONTAINER FOR PRECIOUS STONES Filed Jan. 15, 1967 r fm uv. m

Roman Weissberg ATTORNEY Fig 3,406,821 CONTAINER FOR PRECIOUS STONES 'Roman Weissberg, 5, Goetheplatz, 6 Frankfurt am Main, Germany Filed Jan. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 609,172 Claims priority, application Germany, Jan. 21, 1966, W 36,494 7 Claims. (Cl. 206-75) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container having regularly arranged recesses in' a bottom part is provided with grooves running between fthe recesses. The depth of the grooves is varied according to the shape of the stones in the recesses to promote ease in the withdrawal of the stones.

Field ofthe invention United States Patent Fice The invention relates to a container for precious stones,

When trading brilliants, the stones are placed, without order, into stone envelopes and sold according to their average weight. This is disadvantageous, for example, for goldsmiths and jewelers, in that a quantity of relatively irregular stones, determined according to weight, must be sorted in a time-consuming operation when, for example, a valuable watch is to be surrounded by a circle of like stones.

When using envelopes, stones are readily and uncontrollably lost. There is thus a need to make the selection of stones easier for a stores buyer, as well as for the stores customer, and at the same time to lessen the risk of loss. The 'solution was found by departing, in this invention, from the idea of selling stones in stone envelopes; rather, the stones are provided in containers, arranged in an orderly manner in accordance with types and/ or dimensions, color, and quality.

Summary of the invention In the present invention, a container having a sealable sliding lid is provided. In the bottom part of the container, recesses are arranged for each stone in a clear, uniform pattern. The invention provides furthermore that grooves are arranged between the individual recesses for the stones; these grooves facilitate the removal of stones, for example, by means of tweezers. Advantageou'sly, the bottom of the groove is located below the rondure of the stone. The sliding lid is advantageously transparent so that the content of the container is visible even if the lid be closed.

Objects of the invention are: to provide a container making the selection of precious stones easier for buyer and customer; and to provide a container allowing the safe storage of precious stones 4and at the same time render them easily accessible and observable.

Brief description of the drawing Other objects and -many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like pants throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partially sectional, lateral view of the embodiment of the invention with its lid pulled out partially;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of FIGURE 1.

3,406,821 Patented Oct. 22, 1968 FIGURE 3 shows, on an enlarged scale, a recess in the bottom part of the container in lateral section with a partly broken-away stone provided therein;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment.

FIGURE 5 corresponds to FIGURE 1, but the lid is in its closing position.

FIGURE 6 is a top view of FIGURE 3.

Description ofthe preferred embodiment In a container bottom part 1, preferably made of synthetic material, recesses 3 are provided in a regular arrangement, the dimensions of these recesses corresponding to the dimensions of the stones '5 to be -placed therein. Ilt is possible to provide units, for example, for 50 or 100 stones, but also for more stones or less stones. It is likewise within the scope of the invention to arrange, in one bottom part, recesses, for example, for two different sizes.

The container is closed by a lid 2, which is preferably constructed as a sliding lid slidable in interlocking guides in the bottom part. As shown in FIG. 1, when the lid is in its closing position, it rests against the bottom part 1 to block the entrances of recesses 3. Thus, stones will not dislodge due to an accidental jolting of the container. A bore 6 is provided in the lid 2, and a bore 6a is in the bottom part of the container. When the lid 2 is pushed in, as in FIGURE 5, the container is closed and the bores 6, 6a are aligned to form a channel through which a wire 9, a cord, or the like is passed. A massive or iiat seal 10 secures the container.

In order to remove stones more easily, longitudinal and/or transverse grooves 4, 8 are arranged between the recesses, the bottom of these grooves being somewhat below the rondure or level of maximum diameter of the stones so that the removal of stones by means of tweezers is facilitated. The location of the grooves relative to the rondure is shown in the detail views of FIGS. 3 and 6. A recess 7 is provided at an end of the bottom part to facilitate the withdrawal of stacked containers. This recessed end i's constructed as a Igripping bar.

The container of the invention oiers many advantages` The stones are in a clear arrangement and visibly provided in the container. The stones are generally classiiied according to specific dimensions and can be deignatecl by one to x; a goldsmith or jeweler can thus supervise removal with one glance, and can note in time when i1 is necessary to reorder a stone.

The purchase or sale takes place in accordance with the number or size of the stones.

For placing repeat orders, a merchant is a'ware of the stock which is still on hand.

Iit should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only preferred embodiments of tht invention and that it is intended to cover all changes ant modifications of the examples of the invention hereir chosen for the purposes of the disclosure, which do noi constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container simultaneously functioning as a sorting container, sales display box, storage receptacle anc transportation safe for a plurality of precious stones comprising a bottom part (1) having regularly arrange(A recesses (3) of static dimension in its interior, each o1 said recesses forming a receptacle for a stone, said recesse: having a predetermined shape for the holding of corre spondingly shaped stones; said bottom part having at leasl one set of Igrooves running between said recesses, saic grooves having a depth such that they intercept sait recesses below the level of maximum dimension of stone: held therein; and a lid means (2) mountable to said bottom part and having a closing position wherein said bottom part is closed, said lid means being transparent.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: said lid means and said bottom part each having a bore (6, 6a); said bores being aligned when said lid means is in its closing position, wherethrough a sealed wire may pass.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein said lid means is a sliding lid (2) and wherein said bottom part has interlocking means along which said sliding lid is slidable into and out of said closing position.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1, especially suited for stacking with at least one other said counter of equal external dimensions, said bottom plait having an indention (7) at one end.

S. A container as claimed in claim 4, said one end of said bottom part having the shape of a grip bar.

6. A package simultaneously functioning as a sorting container, sales display box, storage receptacle and transportation safe for a plurality of precious stones, cornprising: a bottom -part (1) having regularly arranged recesses (3) in its interior, each of said recesses for-ming a receptacle for a stone, said recesses having a predetermined shape for the holding of correspondingly shaped stones; said bottom part having at least one set of grooves running between said recesses; correspondingly shaped precious stones in said recess; said grooves having a depth such that they intercept said recesses below the level of maximum dimension of said stones; and a lid means (2) mountable to said bottom part and having a closing position wherein said bottom part is closed, said lid means being transparent.

7. A package of precious stones asclaimed in claim 6, said lid means and said bottom part each having a bore (6, 6a); said bores being aligned when said lid means is in its closing position, wherethrouglh a sealed wire may pass.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 261,340 7/ 1882 Gundorph.

608,899 8/ 1898 Ottney 220-41 X 935,420 9/ 1909 Smith. 2,472,582 6/ 1949 Green 220-41 2,965,219 12/ 1960 Rhodin 206-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 644,456 6/ 1928 France.

395,476 5/ 1924 Germany.

852,434 10/1952 Germany. 1,124,388 2/ 1962 Germany.

`TOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

THERON E. CONDON, Examiner.

J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner 

